Retelling Myths
Novels that retell myths, especially with a focus on women, are cropping up all over these days. In this post, I look at one of the top 10 lists for this sub-genre. I’d love to hear what you think, also.
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Judith Starkston
Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Their myths and clashes inspire her fiction and open gates to magical realms. She has degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories, and her novels imbue fantasy with the richness of ancient worlds. The first book in her Trojan Threads Series, Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana, the first in her historical fantasy Tesha series, won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.
Review of Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
I think Rust in the Root is one of the most worthwhile books I’ve read recently, a fantasy twist on American history and the role of Black Americans. It’s entertaining as well as thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy my review.
Nefertiti’s Chariot
Writing historical fiction–even with some fantastical elements thrown in–requires careful use of accurate historical detail. I loved this discussion of Egyptian chariots and the surprisingly abundant evidence for women using chariots. So handy for my fiction!
Ramses Exhibit, Gold of the Pharaohs
I spent a happy day at the exhibit, Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs. I have some thoughts to share which I hope you’ll enjoy. Read on for Ramses, Egyptian gold, and taking a nuanced view of history and museum exhibits.
Fingerprints and Archaeology
We think of fingerprints as a tool of modern crime detection, but police experts are interpreting ancient fingerprints for archaeologists. I was surprised both by the range of projects and the information they could surmise.
Review of Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, by Charlie Holmberg
This historical fantasy is both a magic-filled thriller with a delightfully creepy villain and a romance with hesitant Victorian “lovers.” There’s a house that’s truly out to get its owner, among other dangers that manage to be both funny and frightening. Read on for my review.
Collapse of Late Bronze Age Empires
1200 BCE is the general date historians attribute to the fall of the Bronze Age. Empires in flames, widespread destruction of countless cities. Or maybe not. Getting history right is a subtle and complicated process. How much does physical destruction underlie the collapse of empires?
Uncovering Troy, An Interactive Map
If you’ve ever visited the site of Troy in modern Turkey, you know what a befuddling place it is. So many jumbled layers, so many strands of history–or is it myth? The Archaeological Institute has come to the rescue with a clear and enjoyable interactive map. Click through to read about it and have some fun.
Egyptian Tomb of “Top Secret” Dignitary
What makes another Egyptian tomb discovery interesting? The importance of the person buried inside certainly enters into it, so here’s the recently begun excavation of a dignitary with access to royal “top secrets.”
Happy Holidays & Mesopotamia Mystery
Happy holidays to you with cookies, of course. And in case you need something to escape the festivities, here’s a murder mystery at an archaeological dig in Mesopotamia.